Chapter 13: Club Reminders
"The class ends now."
Towards the end of the lecture regarding personal behavior, the two at the farthest seat seemed to have undergone a battle on their own, disregarding the discussion by their instructor.
One of the two people seemed to have undergone a tough mental battle. His soul appeared to have been left out of his body due to the psychological torment he received from that hour alone.
He was no other than Aster.
Beside him was the triumphant Cillian, who appeared to have satiated his glutton regarding the mental warfare they had just done.
It felt good for him, beyond satisfied even!
It was a hellish hour for Aster
The urge to restrain himself from punching Cillian, just one punch would suffice, like really just a jab, was keeping him on the edge every time.
The devils inside him kept convincing him to land a blow, but the rationality kept him off the edge of the abyss.
There was only a quarter of that hour left till Aster realized he had been duped.
When this realization happened, the usual "Heh. Hehs" was upgraded into sentences.
Because of keeping himself in check while being provoked by Cillian, which took his mental capacity to even think and listen, everything was already too late.
The good thing about his provocation, well, on Cillian’s side, is that there will be no action taken against him.
At the end of the interaction, as long as he wasn’t cursing the other person or being racist, as a matter of fact, he would not get reprimanded.
Yet words, in that moment, are a powerful tool.
Cillian just used it like what a professional hater he is. Some of those which was infuriating enough that Aster almost burst into a bubble due to how provocative they were, like an inside joke between them.
-Melissa, has she been well? I’m quite worried. I mean, she should be. I miss—Heh, never mind. I miss her, I guess.
-I know the feeling of resisting the urge to do something, you know. I mean, there’s a saying ’Don’t let your intrusive thoughts win’, yeah? Oh, is it about to win on you? Please, don’t~
-Imagine you had the means to do something, but couldn’t do it because of some restrictions you put on yourself. Ah yes, in a situation, slapping a defenseless fly. You failed to slap it because it flew.
-Oh, maybe the analogy is wrong. I mean, for instance, I was the fly. The only difference is that I had no means to fly. I’m defenseless and vulnerable beside you. Could you still slap me, though? I dare you~
Cillian’s words were full of provocation, with a mix of tone and a set of not-so below-the-belt wordings, he knew he got Aster on the edge of his seat.
Did the two monitor personnel hear the two of them? Obviously.
Do they give a damn about them? Obviously... but on the matter that they hurt each other through physical means.
They might even bypass it and take it as friendly banter. Well, Aster’s guard seemed to be also having fun between the interactions of the two, which he just let be.
"Class dismissed."
One after another, the students left the area and exited the classroom. Aster, whose complexion was beyond recognizable, came next to them as he slowly left the place, seemingly not wanting to even glance at Cillian.
"Get up. It’s time to leave."
Freya, seeing that they were the only ones left in the classroom, spoke solemnly.
She added.
"There are a few little things we needed to discuss, and a few paperwork required to be signed."
"All right."
Cillian immediately followed Freya out of the classroom.
Instead of following the usual path towards his dormitory, she walked around in so many ways, passing through the west wing where the dormitories of the second and third years reside.
Stolen glances came from different kinds of directions. After a few minutes, Freya seemed to have led Cesar to a very important place that was known to all.
/Student Council/
"Get in."
Cillian followed Freya inside and got to have a look through the council’s residence.
Inside, a long rectangular table was placed in the middle where the members held their meetings, and rows of chairs were placed on its sides.
Windows were covered with curtains that made the onlookers outside unable to peep what was happening inside.
On some walls, there were doors that led to each office of the council members. The council room was plain but well-maintained, as everyone expected it to be.
"Stay here."
The moment Freya led Cillian to her office, she made him stop. She entered and did something inside that correlates to the reason for his presence currently. Not even a minute passed, and she brought two folders with papers inside.
"You can sit down and sign this."
When Freya was trying to sit down on one of the seats available at the table, Cillian hesitated and sat down.
He felt slightly afraid that he might damage some furniture and stuff, which could result in him having to pay.
He was already broke for goodness sake.
Hence, he carefully sat down on the chair and slowly moved the chair to properly position himself.
"What are you doing? Move faster."
Freya commented on how slow he was sitting down before sliding down the first contract.
Cillian began reading the entirety of it, which only took a few minutes since there really wasn’t much to be inputted and the clauses were strict yet straightforward, leaving no holes to be discussed.
Cillian picked up the pen in his chest pocket and began signing what needed to be signed. It was done without a hitch.
"As long as you have acquired your two other members, the contract will be deemed ratified. Don’t worry, the contract will not be null. On the contrary, even though everything has been made, you’ll have to pay the fees that are equivalent to five merit to my treasurer. Of course, until then, get your two members."
Freya handed over the other folder.
"This is the paper that they needed to be signed. It’s just a consent and willingness to be part of your club and such. Tell them to read it carefully still."
Receiving the paper, Cillian carefully stood up from his place and lightly bowed.
"Thank you for this."
"Sure."
Freya watched the magical clock hanging above the entrance before calmly saying.
"It’s been two hours now. I think you can handle yourself to return, right? Besides, I’m a bit tired for today."
Feeling gleeful about the matter, Cillian didn’t hesitate to say:
"No problem! Please, rest."
Cesar immediately turned around and walked with light steps. He couldn’t help but reminisce about how the situation was always turning on his side.
’If this continued, it would be really suspicious—’
Alas, his thought came to an abrupt halt.
The moment he was about to exit the council room, he sensed his vision swayed. The furniture hanging on the walls and chairs was moving on its own.
Freya, whose complexion appeared tired and ready to rest by entering her office, paused and hastily ran towards the entrance where Cillian was situated.
There was an earthquake. A very strong one, at that.
’Oh, come on.’
And Cillian knew exactly what was happening.
Freya, who also recognized the situation, calmly looked at Cillian for a moment, hesitating.
But with pressing matters on hand, she let out a soft sigh and stated.
"You know the protocols when such a thing happens, right?"
Cillian nodded.
"Go to the ground complex. Do I just have to follow everyone?"
"No,"
Freya shook her head, suggesting something.
"Assist me for now. We’re going to search around the whole academy and see if everyone reached the ground complex safely."
Cillian tilted his head slightly to the side.
’And... why would I do it?’
Everything was shaking, and Freya was in haste.
Cillian couldn’t understand the help he could offer when she was enough to pull off those tasks. Besides, with his abilities, he was confident enough to securely sprint towards the ground complex.
Freya, as if she was thinking about it, let out a crooked smile and expressed.
"Helping students and your seniors seemed to be right, no?"
"All right, I’m out."
Cillian said dismissively, not wanting to hear any words relating to ’helping’ and ’just’ in this situation when he was also running out of time.
Their conversation, the longer it happens, the more perilous they are putting themselves in.
Freya and Cillian understood it.
In a moment, there seems to be a factor as to why she was in need of his help instead of going alone.
Finally, Freya had to give up as she confessed.
"I’m afraid that I’ve been a bit too tired today. I’m anxious that I might neglect a student who is in need of help when it matters the most, only because I’m not in the right head now. Hence, help will be really needed."
’Oh, she is concerned for everyone. Not bad, Though, by the looks of it, she is sick. Ah, right. She has been sneezing from time to time. Is that really it?’
The answer came so fast when Cillian saw her sneezing softly. If others saw her actions, they might’ve already been allured.
Though he was unbothered.
’I guess that’s really it.’
Thinking about what he could acquire from this, Cillian didn’t dillydally to express his side.
"I will help you,"
Cillian paused, not even slightly guilty of making a deal with a sick Freya, before he continued.
"In exchange, you owe me a favor."
Freya scoffed before shrugging her shoulders.
"As long as it didn’t violate anything, then deal."
’What a law-abiding individual.’
With a nod, the two of them left the room as they began convincing students to move every time they passed by.